SP MP who spoke on Gyanvapi: ‘Current politics against Muslims … Silsila of making claims on religious places should stop’

A first-time MP from Moradabad of the Samajwadi Party and a practising surgeon, Dr S T Hasan, 65, went further than his party has gone on the Gyanvapi mosque issue in his speech in Parliament on February 5, when he said: “The Supreme Court gave a verdict and the Ram Temple issue was resolved. It was a verdict and not justice, but it was resolved. Now the issue of another mosque has come up… Gyanvapi… then there will be Mathura… then Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar and Delhi’s Jama Masjid. When people make claims on 3,000 mosques, we have to think about what we are giving to our next generations, love or hate.” Hasan speaks to The Indian Express about claims on Muslim religious places, problems in the INDIA coalition for the Lok Sabha polls, and other issues.

Excerpts:

The Supreme Court accepted that whatever happened on December 6, 1992, was a crime. It also accepted that no evidence of a temple was found under the (Babri) mosque. It then went on to resolve the matter between the two communities by awarding the disputed land to the Hindus, even when no proof of a temple was found and a crime was seen to have been committed there.

There was tension between the two communities for hundreds of years because of the issue. We all respect the Supreme Court. Everyone had assured beforehand that they would accept whatever decision it took. Hence, that matter got resolved so easily. That’s why I said that it was a verdict, but that justice was not done.

The Ram Temple is now built. Muslims too respect Ramchandraji. I also do. But using Ramchandra ji for petty benefits is against decorum. The politics of using religion to achieve certain goals is not good for the nation and future generations.

There is the Places of Worship Act, 1991. Its